FIT4FOOD2030 & COVID-19

The global disruptive effects of the recent covid-19 outbreak, are also affecting the work of FIT4FOOD2030. The outbreak and the disruptions resulting from it, in our view emphasize the need to further work on securing future food systems that are resilient, sustainable, innovative, adaptive and inclusive. Enhancing all these properties together allows complex systems like food systems to better be able to deal with sudden shocks such as pandemics. While those working throughout the food systems continue to work tirelessly to achieve food and nutrition security for the world’s population, crises like these expose the vulnerabilities of our current food systems. Disruptive events can lead to severe problems in for instance global markets, food supply chains, food security and socio-cultural dimensions of food consumption. We observe emerging and uncomfortable trade-offs between social, economic, environmental and health related dynamics in food systems.

As a project, FIT4FOOD2030 is committed to continue working on future-proofing EU food systems through transformation of research and innovation (R&I). Current events reveal the need to adopt holistic approaches in food systems research and governance. Such systemic approaches help to identify and mitigate undesirable dynamics such as trade-offs, but also to find synergies between different sectors and policy fields. It might allow us to better identify leverage points where intervention for transformation can be most successful. Current events also stress the societal relevance of research and innovation, while highlighting the importance and challenges of integrating the different visions and views of the many different stakeholders operating in the system to find (policy) solutions. This further motivates us to continue in articulating systems approaches and Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) for European food systems.

Our project heavily relies on stakeholder engagement for the work performed by our 25 Labs across Europe, but also in the many other activities organized by the partners of our consortium. In order to continue our work in the coming months, we will move towards digital solutions to facilitate interactive sessions on the future of European food systems.

City Labs and COVID-19

Food Lab Trentino

The project Nutrire Trento (Feeding Trento) has not stopped during the COVID-19 emergency. It continues to identify ideas and solutions to improve the quality of the food for the city, providing healthy food that adequately remunerates all actors in the food supply chain.

Promoted by the Municipality of Trento and the University of Trento and involving producers, various sectors of the economy, schools and associations, Nutrire Trento (Feeding Trento) has recently become a pilot case of the EIT Climate KIC-funded project Saturn, coordinated by Fondazione Edmund Mach, who are also the hosts of the Food Lab Trentino under FIT4FOOD2030.

City Lab Milan

Museo Nazionale della Scienza e della Tecnologia Leonardo da Vinci, coordinator of the City Lab Milan, aims to engage with people starting with their daily lives under the new measures imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic – and access to food plays a large role in this. Barbara Gallavotti, scientific journalist and advisor of the museum, spoke to Ivano Vacondio, president of the Italian Federation of Food Industry – Federalimentare. In the interview they dive into the topic of food systems and COVID-19. The interview can also viewed on Youtube and on Facebook.

The interview is part of the museum’s initiative titled; Stories behind closed-doors (#storieaportechiuse), which allows visitors of all ages tour behind-the-scenes, exploration the museum’s collections and archives, as well as science news and educational lab activities.

FIT4FOOD2030 Tools

Here you will discover FIT4FOOD2030 project’ tools that might be useful to (digitally) engage with stakeholders on the future food systems!